Solid-state image pickup apparatus and method of driving solid-state image pickup apparatus

Abstract

An image pickup apparatus includes a pixel array including a plurality of pixels arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, and a plurality of column signal processing circuits provided respectively for the columns of the pixel array, each being configured to receive output signals from the pixels and an analog signal varying with time. The plurality of column signal processing circuits include a first column signal processing circuit and a second column signal processing circuit configured such that each of the first column signal processing circuit and the second column signal processing circuit is configured to be independently switched between a driving state and a power saving state. A signal line for supplying the analog signal to the first column signal processing circuit and a signal line for supplying the analog signal to the second column signal processing circuit are electrically isolated from each other.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A solid-state image pickup apparatus comprising:
 a pixel array including a plurality of pixels arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns; and 
 a plurality of column signal processing circuits provided respectively for the columns of the pixel array, each being configured to receive output signals from the pixels and an analog signal varying with time, 
 wherein the plurality of column signal processing circuits include a first column signal processing circuit and a second column signal processing circuit configured such that each of the first column signal processing circuit and the second column signal processing circuit is configured to be independently switched between a driving state and a power saving state, and 
 a signal line for supplying the analog signal to the first column signal processing circuit and a signal line for supplying the analog signal to the second column signal processing circuit are electrically isolated from each other. 
 
     
     
       2. The solid-state image pickup apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 each of the plurality of column signal processing circuits includes an amplifier circuit configured to amplify the output signal of the pixel and a clipping circuit configured to clip an output voltage of the amplifier circuit, and 
 the analog signal input to the column signal processing circuit is a clip voltage supplied to the clipping circuit. 
 
     
     
       3. The solid-state image pickup apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first control signal line configured to supply a first control signal for controlling the driving state and the power saving state of the first column signal processing circuit; and 
 a second control signal line different from the first control signal line and configured to supply a second control signal for controlling the driving state and the power saving state of the second column signal processing circuit. 
 
     
     
       4. The solid-state image pickup apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the plurality of column signal processing circuits includes a plurality of the first column signal processing circuits and a plurality of the second column signal processing circuits, and 
 when the first column signal processing circuits are in the driving state and the second column signal processing circuits are in the power saving state, at least two of the first column signal processing circuits are located adjacent to each other. 
 
     
     
       5. The solid-state image pickup apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a switching circuit configured to be capable of switching between a mode in which one of the pixels is connected to each of the column signal processing circuits and a mode in which a plurality of the pixels are connected to one of the column signal processing circuits. 
     
     
       6. The solid-state image pickup apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of the signal lines provided for the respective columns, each of the signal lines being connected to the pixels in a corresponding column. 
     
     
       7. The solid-state image pickup apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein
 a plurality of the signal lines are provided for each of the columns, and 
 the number of the columns is equal to the number of the column signal processing circuits. 
 
     
     
       8. The solid-state image pickup apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein
 a plurality of the signal lines are provided for each of the columns, and 
 the number of signal lines is equal to the number of column signal processing circuits. 
 
     
     
       9. The solid-state image pickup apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the column signal processing circuits are divided into two groups disposed at locations opposing each other via the pixel array. 
     
     
       10. A solid-state image pickup apparatus comprising:
 a pixel array including a plurality of pixels arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns; and 
 a plurality of column signal processing circuits provided respectively for the columns of the pixel array, each column signal processing circuit including an amplifier circuit configured to amplify an output signal from at least one of the plurality of pixels and a clipping circuit configured to clip an output voltage of the amplifier circuit, and 
 a clip voltage signal line for supplying a clip voltage to the clipping circuit of the column signal processing circuits, 
 wherein the plurality of column signal processing circuits include a first column signal processing circuit and a second column signal processing circuit configured such that each of the first column signal processing circuit and the second column signal processing circuit is configured to be independently switched between a driving state and a power saving state, and 
 the clipping circuit performs a clipping operation on the output voltage only when the column signal processing circuit is in the driving state. 
 
     
     
       11. The solid-state image pickup apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the clipping circuit performs the clipping operation according to a control signal that controls the driving state and the power saving state of the column signal processing circuit. 
     
     
       12. The solid-state image pickup apparatus according to  claim 10 , further comprising
 a first control signal line configured to supply a first control signal that controls the driving state and the power saving state of the first column signal processing circuit; and 
 a second control signal line different from the first control signal line and configured to supply a second control signal that controls the driving state and the power saving state of the second column signal processing circuit. 
 
     
     
       13. The solid-state image pickup apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein
 the plurality of column signal processing circuits includes a plurality of the first column signal processing circuits and a plurality of the second column signal processing circuit, and
 when the first column signal processing circuit is in the driving state and the second column signal processing circuit is in the power saving state, at least two of the first column signal processing circuits are located adjacent to each other. 
 
 
     
     
       14. The solid-state image pickup apparatus according to  claim 10 , further comprising a switching circuit configured to be capable of switching between a mode in which one of the pixels is connected to each of the column signal processing circuits and a mode in which a plurality of the pixels are connected to one of the column signal processing circuits. 
     
     
       15. A method of driving a solid-state image pickup apparatus, the solid-state image pickup apparatus including a pixel array including a plurality of pixels arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, a plurality of column signal processing circuits provided respectively for the columns of the pixel array, each being configured to receive output signals from the pixels and an analog signal varying with time, the method comprising:
 setting a first part of the column signal processing circuits to be in a driving state and setting a second part of the column signal processing circuits to be in a power saving state; and 
 supplying the analog signal to the first part of the column signal processing circuits via a first signal line and supplying the analog signal to the second part of the column signal processing circuits via a second signal line electrically isolated from the first signal line. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of driving the solid-state image pickup apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein
 each of the plurality of column signal processing circuits includes an amplifier circuit configured to amplify the output signal of the pixel and a clipping circuit configured to clip an output voltage of the amplifier circuit, and 
 the analog signal input to the column signal processing circuit is a clip voltage supplied to the clipping circuit. 
 
     
     
       17. A method of driving a solid-state image pickup apparatus, the solid-state image pickup apparatus including a pixel array including a plurality of pixels arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, and a plurality of column signal processing circuits provided respectively for the columns of the pixel array, each column signal processing circuit including an amplifier circuit configured to amplify an output signal from a pixel and a clipping circuit configured to clip an output voltage of the amplifier circuit, the method comprising:
 setting a first part of the column signal processing circuits to be in a driving state and setting a second part of the column signal processing circuits to be in a power saving state; and 
 setting the clipping circuit of the first part of the column signal processing circuits to be in a driving state and setting the clipping circuit of the second part of the column signal processing circuits to be in a non-operating state. 
 
     
     
       18. An image pickup system comprising
 the solid-state image pickup apparatus according to  claim 1 ; and 
 a signal processing unit configured to generate an image using the output signal of the pixels output from the solid-state image pickup apparatus. 
 
     
     
       19. An image pickup system comprising:
 the solid-state image pickup apparatus according to  claim 10 ; and
 a signal processing unit configured to generate an image using the output signal of the pixels output from the solid-state image pickup apparatus.